Will fight till death to get statehood for North Karnataka, says Congress MLA Raju Kage

Belagavi: Congress MLA from Kagwad Raju Kage said in the Assembly on Thursday that he would fight for a separate state for North Karnataka "till his death".

Speaking during a discussion on the problems of the region, Kage said the revenue department had granted Rs 8.6 crore to build a Praja Soudha in Kagwad (Belagavi district), but had given Rs 16 crore for similar Praja Soudha in Kadur taluk of Chikkamagaluru district.

"Why this discrimination? What mistake have we done? That's why I sought a separate state. Everyone has opposed it, but I will keep making the demand. Even if all other MLAs oppose, I will fight for this cause till death," he said.  

In November, the legislator had written a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, seeking statehood for North Karnataka.

Referring to the decision to provide Rs 5,000 crore for the development of Kalyana Karnataka region), the Kagwad MLA said he wasn’t against it, but sought a similar grant to Kittur Karnataka region too.

Seeking Rs 10 crore for each constituency, Kage said, "If we come and beg 100 times, they give us 15-20 paise. This has been the situation of North Karnataka MLAs".

He said there were many people in his region, including well-off persons, who hadn't even seen Bengaluru.

The Kagwad MLA also took severe exception to the fact that no action had been taken against revenue secretary Rajendra Kumar Kataria, despite him moving a breach of privilege against him several months ago. 

At this point, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka and his deputy Arvind Bellad intervened. Ashoka said officials were not "co-operating" and that IAS officers were in "jolly mood".

Expelled BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal seconded Kage's point that Kittur Karnataka region should be given Rs 5,000 crore too.

Reeling out some statistics, the MLA said south Karnataka had more districts, political representation and several other benefits compared to north Karnataka. 

However, his data set in many cases combined coastal Karnataka (a separate region) with north Karnataka.

He took indirect potshots at his bete noire and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and his father and former chief minister B S Yediyurappa.